Seth Farbman on Podcast - From Startup to Stock Exchange

Hosted by Seth Farbman

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Episodes

117

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to Seth Farbman on Podcast, “From Start-Up to Stock Exchange”. Seth Farbman is an entrepreneur who has founded multiple companies and has completed several successful exits. Want to relate to the high and low experiences of rejections? What does it take to go from an idea in a basement to managing 120 employees with multiple locations? As someone who has serviced thousands of private and publicly traded companies over 20 years, on this podcast you'll find a winning mix of personal thoughts and professional experiences with a goal to provide practical tools and strategy on topics such as launching and growing a company, marketing and self branding on LinkedIn as well as insights to the going public process on the OTC, Nasdaq and NYSE.

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60 recent

October 29, 202622 min

Built & Sold 4 Companies Without Ever Planning an Exit | Seth Farbman's Podcast

Build something that people want and they’ll come knocking. That was one of the points we discussed in this collaboration episode with Know the Deal. It was a great conversation with Katya Fisher and John Lindsey, and we got into a lot more: why building a company just to sell it takes the fun out of it, what a stock transfer agent actually does behind every public company, how blockchain looked in 2018 versus today, how SPACs work, and what really happens the morning after the IPO bell rings. We also talked about why CEOs should be telling their story on LinkedIn, and the story behind the custom VStock sneakers. In this episode: Why building to sell takes the fun out of it What a stock transfer agent does, in plain English Blockchain then and now SPACs explained What the IPO celebration doesn’t show Why CEOs should build a presence on LinkedIn The VStock sneakers Thank you to Katya and John for the great questions and conversation. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:04 Building and Selling Companies 04:14 What a Transfer Agent Actually Does 05:52 Blockchain: Then vs. Now 08:30 Build Something People Want 10:17 SPACs Explained 13:04 What the Spotlight Misses About Deals 15:14 Why CEOs Should Build a Presence on LinkedIn 19:11 The VStock Sneakers 20:59 Where to Find Me Connect with Seth LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

October 12, 202640 min

A Press Release Isn’t Enough Anymore - Ty Hoffer & Dan Milinkovic | Seth Farbman’s Podcast

FDA approval, a deal with Nvidia, and a stock that still won’t move. In this episode of From Startup to Stock Exchange, Seth Farbman sits down with Ty Hoffer, president, and Dan Milinkovic, director of sales, at Winning Media, a digital investor awareness firm that works with micro and small-cap public companies in the US and Canada. They discuss why most public companies aren’t doing anything wrong but simply aren’t doing enough to cut through the noise, why a press release alone no longer reaches retail investors, and why investors can need between 5 and 12 touch points before they buy. They also explain how responsible investor awareness differs from stock promotion, why bankers often advise setting aside roughly 10% of a raise for marketing, what the first 30 days of a campaign look like, and why a do-it-yourself ad campaign rarely scales when big news hits. If you’re a founder, executive, or investor relations lead wondering why good news isn’t moving your stock, or you’re preparing to list and planning your capital markets budget, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to the channel for more conversations on what it really takes to go from startup to stock exchange. Guests Featured in this Episode: Ty Hoffer : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ty-hoffer/ Dan Milinkovic : https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-milinkovic/ Winning Media : https://www.winning.media/ Chapters: 00:00 Great News, But the Stock Won't Move 02:01 What Winning Media Does and Who It Serves 04:45 Not Doing Wrong, Just Not Doing Enough 11:52 Investor Awareness vs. Stock Promotion 14:57 How Landing Pages Tell the Story 19:19 Why Investors Need 5 to 12 Touchpoints 22:06 Using Marketing for Offense and Defense 28:04 Budgeting: The 10% Rule for a Raise 33:17 What the First 30 Days Look Like 36:16 Why DIY Digital Campaigns Don't Scale Connect with Seth LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

October 5, 202648 min

Going Public Is Only the Beginning - Jason Paltrowitz | Seth Farbman's Podcast

A $5 billion stock market, and the kind of insight that helps founders avoid becoming a cautionary tale about it. In this episode of From Startup to Stock Exchange, Seth Farbman sits down with Jason Paltrowitz, a cross-border equity and capital markets consultant at Cross Bridge who has worked with companies across more than 40 countries. They discuss what a real secondary market looks like once the IPO hype fades, why the US market isn't one market at all, why late filings are a red flag for investors, and why early-stage companies probably shouldn't be held to the same standard as a company like Microsoft. Jason also explains why he no longer ties himself to any single exchange, structure, or country, and what that independence lets him tell clients that a paid banker often can't. If you're a founder, executive, or investor thinking about going public, or you're already listed and rethinking your capital markets strategy, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to the channel for more conversations on what it really takes to go from startup to stock exchange. Connect with Jason Paltrowitz, Founder & Principal, Crossbridge Advisors LLC LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-paltrowitz-a870a91/ Chapters: 00:00 – Trailer 00:40 – Introduction 01:44 – Jason's background 03:51 – Leaving OTC and starting Cross Bridge 09:11 – The biggest misconception about US markets 12:20 – IPO vs. secondary market, and the Mongolia stat 14:24 – The Times Square billboard problem 17:11 – The Kazakhstan airport story 18:02 – Nasdaq and NYSE delisting rules, "lawful but awful" 26:44 – How he picks which companies to work with 30:10 – What separates companies that survive from ones that don't 34:26 – Working with exchanges instead of just issuers 40:00 – His take on 24-hour trading 45:54 – How to reach Jason, and the 7.5% stake he turned down Connect with Seth LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

September 14, 202627 min

From App Store to Stock Exchange: Zedge CEO Jonathan Reich | Seth Farbman's Podcast

On this episode, host Seth Farbman sits down with Jonathan Reich, CEO of Zedge, the publicly traded company behind Zedge Marketplace, the leading platform for mobile phone personalization content including ringtones, wallpapers, app icons, and dynamic wallpapers. Zedge has built a community of around 20 million monthly active users, and Jonathan breaks down how that scale turned into an unexpected new business line: licensing content and building custom data sets for frontier AI models. He shares how the opportunity came about, what makes Zedge's data valuable to AI companies, and where he sees the business heading next. Jonathan also talks through what it's like running a publicly traded company on the NYSE American, the competitive landscape for a personalization platform this size, and what's got him most excited about Zedge's future. If you're interested in how a consumer app scaled to millions of users and found a second act in the AI economy, this is a conversation worth your time. Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open: Episode Highlights 00:48 Welcome & Guest Introduction 01:52 Why the Name "Zedge"? 02:35 What Zedge Does: Marketplace, GenAI Suite & Guru Shots 03:17 The Pivot: Licensing Data to AI Models 05:38 From Ringtones in 2008 to Today 08:17 Jonathan's Journey: Wall Street to Zedge CEO 13:07 Zedge's Innovation Track: Deciding What Gets Built 16:07 Going Public: Advantages & Global Revenue Mix 22:14 Competition, What's Next & Where to Learn More Connect with Seth LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

September 3, 202630 min

AI Is Growing His Team, Not Replacing It - Giorgio R Saumat | Seth Farbman's Podcast

What does it take to build a healthcare company at the intersection of telehealth, compounding pharmaceuticals, and technology? In our latest episode of Startup to Stock Exchange, host Seth Farbman talks with Giorgio R. Saumat, Chairman & CEO of Earth Science Tech, about his journey from real estate investing into the healthcare industry and ultimately leading a publicly traded company. Giorgio explains how he became involved with Earth Science Tech, how the company has built a vertically integrated healthcare model across telehealth, compounding pharmacies, and its doctor network, and why he believes this approach creates opportunities for long-term growth. The conversation also explores how AI is transforming telehealth operations. While many companies are reducing headcount because of AI, Giorgio shares why his own IT team has grown 4–5x as new technology allows the company to build faster, improve efficiency, and handle growing volumes. Giorgio also discusses expanding the company's geographic footprint, entering the animal healthcare market, and his approach to capital allocation, growth, and building long-term shareholder value. Watch the full conversation to hear Giorgio's perspective on building and scaling a healthcare business in a rapidly changing industry. Connect with Giorgio: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giorgio-r-saumat-etst/ Chapters: 00:00 — Trailer 00:45 — Meet Giorgio Saumat & Earth Science Tech 02:10 — Building a Vertically Integrated Healthcare Company 04:15 — Expanding Into Animal Healthcare 05:20 — The Telehealth Market 06:40 — From Real Estate Investor to CEO 09:10 — Learning the Healthcare Business 11:35 — What Makes Their Model Different? 17:35 — How AI Is Transforming Telehealth 19:30 — Scaling Across the US 25:25 — What Investors Get Wrong About the Company Connect with Seth LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

August 31, 202621 min

The Public Company Helping Fight Addiction - Lourdes Felix | Seth Farbman's Podcast

In this episode, Seth sits down with Lourdes Felix, CEO & CFO of BioCorRx , to discuss what it really takes to build and lead a publicly traded biotech company focused on substance use disorder. Lourdes shares her journey from finance professional to CEO, her 14+ years with BioCorRx, and how the company has evolved from a reverse merger into a drug-development business working on innovative addiction treatment solutions. They discuss the realities of running a public biotech company, from raising capital and managing investor expectations to navigating clinical trials, regulatory development, and the challenge of being pre-revenue. Lourdes also explains BioCorRx’s approach to medication-assisted treatment and the company’s naltrexone implant technology. The conversation also gets personal, exploring the patients and families who have been impacted by the company’s work and what continues to motivate Lourdes after more than a decade in the industry. Finally, Lourdes discusses BioCorRx’s first revenue-generating commercial asset and what could be next for the company. Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CFOs, and advisors shaping today's capital markets. 00:00 — Introducing Lourdes Felix & BioCorRx 01:42 — Building a Company Around Addiction Treatment 03:52 — How BioCorRx Helps People With Addiction 05:59 — From Finance Professional to CEO 07:43 — Balancing Business With Capital Raising 10:43 — From Finance to the World of Biotech 11:50 — Developing BioCorRx’s Naltrexone Implant 15:18 — The Biggest Misconceptions About Addiction 18:26 — The Patients Who Keep Her Going 19:34 — BioCorRx’s First Revenue-Generating Asset & What’s Next Connect with Seth LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

August 27, 202625 min

Being Public Is Harder Than Going Public - Jaylvin Chan | Seth Farbman's Podcast

The real challenge begins once the company goes public. In this episode of From Startup to Stock Exchange , host Seth Farbman talks with Jaylvin Chan, Executive Director of Astute All Advisory and former CFO of two Nasdaq-listed companies. Based in Malaysia, Jaylvin has seen the IPO journey from both sides: as the executive preparing to go public, and now as the advisor guiding other companies through it. Jaylvin explains why the real challenge for public-company CFOs isn't audits or compliance deadlines, but coordinating global teams across time zones. He also breaks down why companies with plenty of capital still choose to list in the US, using Grab's decision to list on Nasdaq instead of Singapore as an example, and shares his take on the SEC's proposed 24-hour trading day. In this episode: The real biggest challenge for a public-company CFO Why foreign companies list in the US even without needing the capital What life looks like after the IPO bell rings Hot industries in Malaysia right now (renewable energy, AI, IoT) Jaylvin's advice: don't wait to be perfect 🔗 Learn more: astuteall.com 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CFOs, and advisors shaping today's capital markets. 00:00 Don’t Wait for the Perfect IPO 01:01 From Nasdaq CFO to IPO Advisor 02:40 Preparing Malaysian Companies for Nasdaq 04:10 Why He Chose the U.S. Markets 05:30 The Biggest Challenge of Going Public 08:17 The CFO as the IPO Quarterback 10:57 Why Foreign Companies Choose Nasdaq 13:22 Being Public Is Harder Than Going Public 15:26 Malaysia’s Hottest Growth Industries 21:31 The Future of 24-Hour Trading & Going Public Fast Connect with Seth LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

August 25, 202636 min

IPO Is Not a Liquidity Event, It's a Credibility Test - Sam Van | Seth Farbman's Podcast

Most founders think going public is a liquidity event, but Sam Van says it's a credibility test. In this episode of Startup to Stock Exchange, Seth Farbman sits down with Sam Van, founding partner at SRO Partners and a former 11 year veteran of the New York Stock Exchange, to unpack why the IPO itself is rarely what sinks a company. It's the 12 months after. Sam shares what he's learned advising companies through the full lifecycle of going public, from 25 to 30 months before the bell rings to the critical first year of trading, including why going public today is less a liquidity event and more a credibility test, what actually separates companies that survive their first year public from those that don't, and how his own journey from NYSE regulator to founder of SRO Partners was born by accident out of client relationships. He also opens up about SRO's deep ties to Asian capital markets, his personal connection to Vietnam, and his role brokering the NYSE-Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange relationship. In this episode, you'll learn: - Why most companies don't fail at the IPO. They fail 12 months later - Why going public is a credibility test, not a liquidity event - What it really costs to run a public company (and why capital disappears faster than founders expect) - How Sam evaluates whether a company is ready to go public, 25-30 months out - Why SRO Partners was founded by accident, and what the name actually stands for - How Sam built a career bridging Asian markets and US capital, from Singapore to Vietnam - What founders need to understand about credibility, buy-in, and due diligence before they ever consider the public markets Whether you're a founder, investor, CEO, or simply interested in the journey from startup to public company, this episode offers insights into IPO readiness, capital markets, post-IPO survival, and what it really takes to build a company that lasts beyond the opening bell. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with founders and CEOs building the next generation of public companies. Connect with Seth LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

August 20, 202628 min

Going Public Is Just the Beginning - Jay Heller | Seth Farbman's Podcast

For most, the IPO is the milestone. For Jay Heller, that’s when the real work begins. In this episode of Startup to Stock Exchange , Seth Farbman sits down with Jay Heller , former Head of Capital Markets at Nasdaq , to discuss the lessons he’s learned from overseeing more than 3,000 IPOs and now building a company of his own. Jay shares what separates companies that succeed from those that don’t, why going public is only the beginning, what founders need to understand about investors and the public markets, and why he ultimately left Nasdaq to become CEO of K-Lab.AI , a programmable payment infrastructure company using AI and blockchain to bring greater speed, transparency, and accountability to payments. In this episode, you'll learn: What Jay Heller learned from overseeing more than 3,000 IPOs Why the IPO is only the beginning, not the finish line What separates companies that succeed in the public markets from those that don't Why Jay left Nasdaq to become CEO of K-Lab.AI How K-Lab.AI is using AI and blockchain to transform payment infrastructure Why strong teams, clear roadmaps, and investor alignment matter when building a public company What founders need to understand about delivering on their promises once they enter the public markets Whether you're a founder, investor, CEO, or simply interested in the journey from startup to public company, this episode offers insights into IPOs, capital markets, leadership, and what it really takes to build a company for the long term. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with founders and CEOs building the next generation of public companies. Connect with Jay: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-heller-345a033/ Chapters: 00:00 - Trailer 00:01:00 - Introduction of Jay Heller & K-Lab.Ai Overview 00:02:39 - How K-Lab.Ai Solves Supply Chain Friction 00:05:05 - Market Focus: Expansion in the US & Latin America 00:07:12 - Why Jay Heller Left Nasdaq to Become CEO 00:12:17 - The True Meaning of the Nasdaq Bell Ceremony 00:13:42 - Key Traits of Successful Public Companies 00:16:10 - The Origins & Evolution of K-Lab.Ai 00:18:52 - Navigating Government Contracts & White House Meetings 00:23:00 - What Makes an Effective CEO Across Different Industries 00:26:12 - Fundraising & Building the Ideal Cap Table Connect with Seth LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1

August 11, 202622 min

The $300M Bet on the Future of Hearing with Envoy Medical - Brent Lucas | Seth Farbman’s Podcast

What does it take to build a public medtech company that's transforming the future of hearing? In this episode of Startup to Stock Exchange, Seth Farbman sits down with Brent Lucas, CEO of Envoy Medical (NASDAQ: COCH), to discuss the journey of bringing groundbreaking hearing technology to the public markets. Envoy Medical is developing the world's first fully implanted cochlear implant, a breakthrough that could redefine how people with severe hearing loss experience sound. But this conversation goes far beyond the technology. Brent shares what it takes to lead an innovative medical device company, the realities of raising capital, navigating the public markets, telling a compelling story to investors, and why having a great product alone isn't enough to build a successful public company. In this episode, you'll learn: - How Envoy Medical is reinventing hearing technology - Why the company chose to go public - The challenges of building a public medtech company - Why great products don't automatically win in the public markets - The importance of investor storytelling - How fully implanted cochlear implants could transform millions of lives - The emotional impact of helping patients reconnect with their loved ones Guest featured in this episode: Brent Lucas, CEO of Envoy Medical -https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-lucas-envoy/ Whether you're a founder, investor, healthcare professional, or simply fascinated by breakthrough innovation, this episode offers valuable insights into the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and the public markets. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with founders and CEOs building the next generation of public companies. Chapters: 00:00 Introducing Brent Lucas & Envoy Medical 02:38 Building Invisible Hearing Technology 05:14 Disrupting a 40-Year-Old Industry 07:16 How Brent Got Into MedTech 10:22 A 30-Year Overnight Success Story 11:26 Why Envoy Medical Went Public 13:01 The Reality of Going Public Through a SPAC 14:38 The Challenge of Building in Public 16:34 The Patient Story That Changed Everything 19:36 The Public Market Challenge Nobody Talks About Connect with Seth LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sethfarbman Twitter (X) – https://x.com/sethfarbman1